Obit: Harbor Footwear’s Evelyn Friedman

Evelyn Friedman, co-founder of Harbor Footwear Group Ltd., died on Dec. 12. She was 88.

Friedman and husband Murray Friedman, who died in 2002, opened the family-owned business 1969. The Port Washington, N.Y.-based company was one of the first to bring affordably priced men’s fashion footwear to the U.S. market, putting the focus on an extensive in-stock program.

While Murray Friedman steered the company day-to-day, his wife was a familiar face in the industry. She routinely traveled with her husband on overseas business trips and was always on hand to greet retailers at shoe shows.

Today, the Friedmans’ son-in-law, Dennis Lazar, is president and CEO, and their grandsons serve in executive roles: Jason Lazar as head of operations and Jaime Kreitzman as senior executive of sales.

Evelyn Friedman is survived by daughters Kathy Lazar and Jackie Krietzman; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.